--- title: "Waterfalls, the 10 best waterfalls in the world | Wimup" description: "The ten best waterfalls in the world, from Victoria Falls to Kuang Si, ranked by height, volume and how close you can get." url: https://wimup.com/waterfalls type: Themed list updated: 2026-11-04 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Waterfalls, the falls worth getting soaked for. By Wimup desk · 10 picks · 3 films · ≈ 4 min read Ten waterfalls from the Zambezi to the Rhine, ranked by height, flow and how close you can get, with the viewpoint and the month for each. We ranked these ten as sights: height and volume from published surveys, such as UNESCO's and the US National Park Service's, and how close a visitor can get to the water. A tall falls seen only from far off ranks below one you can stand in the spray of. ## Waterfalls, the falls worth getting soaked for. ### 1. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Matabeleland North · Zimbabwe The Zambezi drops over a basalt lip 1,708 m wide and up to 108 m high, the largest curtain of falling water in the world. Walk the rainforest path on the Zimbabwe side, which faces the falls across the gorge, and carry a raincoat in high water. - **Height:** 108 m - **Get close:** Rainforest path - **Go in:** Mar–May Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/victoria-falls.md) · [Watch the Victoria Falls film](https://wimup.com/watch/victoria-falls.md) ### 2. Iguazú Falls, Argentina Misiones · Argentina A semicircle of falls some 80 m high and 2.7 km across on the Argentina and Brazil border, by UNESCO's figures. Argentina's catwalks run out over the river to the lip of the Devil's Throat; give the Brazilian side a second day for the panorama of the whole arc. - **Height:** About 80 m - **Get close:** Devil's Throat - **Go in:** Year round Links: [Argentina guide](https://wimup.com/country/argentina.md) ### 3. Angel Falls, Venezuela Bolívar · Venezuela The tallest waterfall in the world: 979 m in all, with an unbroken drop of about 807 m off the edge of Auyán-tepui. Reaching it means a flight to Canaima and hours upriver by motorised canoe in the wet season; read your government's travel advice first. - **Height:** 979 m - **Get close:** Boat from Canaima - **Go in:** Jun–Nov Links: [Venezuela guide](https://wimup.com/country/venezuela.md) ### 4. Kaieteur Falls, Guyana Potaro-Siparuni · Guyana The Potaro River falls 226 m in a single drop into a sandstone gorge, deep in Kaieteur National Park. Day flights from Georgetown's Ogle airport land a short walk from the viewpoints; they depend on the weather, so keep a spare day. - **Height:** 226 m - **Get close:** Day flight - **Go in:** Year round Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/georgetown-guyana.md) ### 5. Niagara Falls, Canada Ontario · Canada The Horseshoe Falls curve across the Niagara River at about 51 m high, and no falls on this list is easier to stand beside. Take the boat into the spray at the base, then Journey Behind the Falls, where tunnels 38 m down open onto the back of the water. - **Height:** About 51 m - **Get close:** Behind the falls - **Go in:** May–Oct Links: [Canada guide](https://wimup.com/country/canada.md) ### 6. Yosemite Falls, USA California · USA At 740 m, by the National Park Service's figure, the tallest waterfall in Yosemite, falling in three sections down the valley wall. Flow peaks in May and the falls is often dry by late summer; the one-mile loop to Lower Yosemite Fall ends in its spray. - **Height:** 740 m - **Get close:** Lower Fall loop - **Go in:** Apr–Jun Links: [United States guide](https://wimup.com/country/united-states.md) ### 7. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia Lika-Senj · Croatia Sixteen terraced lakes joined by some 90 waterfalls, with the 78 m Veliki slap, Croatia's highest, at the foot of the Lower Lakes. Boardwalks run across the water itself; buy a timed ticket on the park's own site, since summer slots sell out. - **Height:** 78 m - **Get close:** Lake boardwalks - **Go in:** May · Jun · Sep Links: [Croatia guide](https://wimup.com/country/croatia.md) ### 8. Gullfoss, Iceland Golden Circle · Iceland The Hvítá drops 32 m in two steps into a gorge so narrow that the lower fall seems to vanish into the ground. It is an easy day trip from Reykjavik on the Golden Circle, and the upper path leads to the edge of the first drop. - **Height:** 32 m - **Get close:** Upper path - **Go in:** Jun–Aug Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/reykjavik.md) · [Watch the Reykjavik film](https://wimup.com/watch/reykjavik.md) ### 9. Rhine Falls, Switzerland Northern Switzerland · Switzerland The largest plain waterfall in Europe: about 600 cubic metres a second in summer over a drop of 23 m and 150 m wide. Boats run out to the rock in the middle of the falls, where steps climb to a platform; book ahead on summer weekends. - **Height:** 23 m - **Get close:** Boat to the rock - **Go in:** May–Sep Links: [Switzerland guide](https://wimup.com/country/switzerland.md) ### 10. Kuang Si Falls, Laos Luang Prabang Province · Laos Three tiers of limestone cascades about 29 km south of Luang Prabang, the main drop about 50 m, the pools below a milky turquoise. Swim in the lower pools where the signs allow it, and stop at the Free the Bears sanctuary by the entrance. - **Height:** About 50 m - **Get close:** Lower pools - **Go in:** Nov–Apr Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/luang-prabang.md) · [Watch the Luang Prabang film](https://wimup.com/watch/luang-prabang.md) ## FAQs ### What is the tallest waterfall in the world? Angel Falls in Venezuela, at 979 m in total with an unbroken drop of about 807 m. Yosemite Falls, at 740 m, is the tallest on this list outside South America. ### What is the largest waterfall in the world? By the single sheet of falling water, Victoria Falls: 1,708 m wide and up to 108 m high. Iguazú is wider as a system, about 2.7 km, but it breaks into many separate falls. ### Should I see Iguazú from Argentina or Brazil? Both, a day each. Argentina's catwalks take you over and beside the falls, out to the Devil's Throat; the Brazilian side faces the arc and gives the panorama. ### Can you swim at any of these waterfalls? At Kuang Si, in the lower pools where signs allow it. Swimming is banned at Plitvice to protect the lakes, and the big falls are for watching from the paths and boats. ### When is the best time to see waterfalls? After the rains, when the flow peaks: March to May at Victoria Falls, May at Yosemite, which is often dry by late summer. Iguazú and Kaieteur run all year, and Angel Falls needs wet-season water for the boats. ## Sources - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.